Inhaler



y 22, 1952 s. MILLER ETAL 2,604,094

' INHALER Filed June 25, 1949 INVENTORS Samuel Miller 8: Arthur C. Emelin ATTORNEY "inhaler with the contact tube Patented July 22, 1952 v .INHALER 7 Samuel 'Miller, New York, and Arthur C.'Emelin, =Ma1naroneck,-*N."Y., assignors "to Scheflley Industries, iInc. New York, N. ia icorporation int-Delaware .Amilicatio'n une '25, 1949,, 'Serial No. 1013292 15 Claims. (Cl. 1'28-206) 1 v invention relatesto inhalers, and relates "more part cularly to inhalers for use with "powdere'd inhalants.

Various practical difficulties have been encountered in using, in'inhalers, powdered "inhalants, such as'powdered-penicillin for example which has come into wide use asa "medicament for respiratory ailments. Thus, the hygrosco- "piity of the powder causes it to agglomerate, "forming particles which are too'large for eii'ecfive-use; Moreover, 'p'rior dev'icesdid not admit suflicient air into the inhaler, or admitted air into thednh'aler in'sucha manner as to cause a Venturi eilect with the result that the powder 'was'driveninto the comers "of the'inha'ler-recep- "tale which holds the powder supply.

- It isan important object or this invention "to -'p'rov'ide a novel inhaler for powdered inhalants whichwill befree from the 'foregoing'and other disadvantages and which will be simple andin- =expensive inconstructionand 'efiicient in'use.

' nnother obiect of this invention is the provision of an inhaler which is so constructed 'as to permit of "the most effective utilization of the powder;

'Stillanother o'b'jecto'f this invention is the, pro- "vision'an'inhaler of means forshattering'any powder'agglomerates. v Other objects of this invention, together with certain *details of "construction and combinations .of "parts, williappear from the following detailed zdesoription and will be pointed out in the 'appended claims.

, "the accompanying drawing wherein 'a preierredembodiment of'our inventionisshown:

' Fig/1 'is'an explodedview' of the'inhalerof our invention showing the receptaclefor'the powder 'Q .blow*the mouth or nose contact tube,

Fig.1'2 is a top .plan view looking inthe'direc- "tion'otithe arrows onlin'e'z- -2 a 'IFig'fi is a vertical cross-sectional view "of the in position -within thereceritalaand I p Fig; 14.15 a horizontal cross-Sectionalview taken -.alongiline "4-4 of'FigC3;

fIlike reference numerals indicate/like parts 'jthronghout the 'several'y'iews of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings for a "detailed to 'keep the closuremember, with'which'the 'recepta'cle 5isoriginally'closed,inposition.

Formed in thebaseon the inside of receptacle -5 is 'a substantially hemispherical depression 9 adapted to receive -a charge of the powdered medicament. A shoulder I I is formed circumfer- -entially of the depression-awhich-shoulder-=is provided with slots or passageways 1-2 leading "into said depression at a tangent to the periph- --ery thereof. 'The inner wall of the receptacle *is provided with integral ribs or projections l 3.

Adapted to be received in'recepta'cle 5,"tobe seated on shoulder l-l and-spacedirom-the inner 'wallof said receptacle by vribs I3 is a mouth or "nose contact tube l4 ofsubstantially cylindrical "form. Spacing of the contact tube 'from 'the inner wall of the receptacle 'forms airways to supply air to the said receptacle.

As is shown at '15 the upper end-of said contacttube is-conically shaped to facilitate the-entrance thereofintoa nostril or the mouth and the tip is provided with an opening it. The barrel of contact tube M is provided with an in- "tegral helical'rib l'lythe spiralling of which corresponds with the direction of the air flow which will hereinafter be more fully described.

'The inhaler of our invention may bemadeof any suitable material such as metal. glass: ceramics :or plastics.

In use, a charge of the powdered medicament is placed in-depress'ionQ of receptacle '5. As suction is applied 'at opening ['6 by the mouth or nose of the userpair is drawn in through-th space 18 formed'between'th'e outer surface :of contact'tu'be ll and'in'the inner wall of reduced portion-l of receptacle'li. This air-enters depression '9 through slots [2, thus avoiding any Venturiefiect. 'The airwithsome of the powder entrapped therein passes from the receptacle to and through *thebarrel of the contact time 14. The helical rib in said tfibe, the-"spiralling of which, as stated above, corresponds with the didescription of our invention, the reference 'numeral 5 indicates a receptacle whichis'substantially circularv in cross-section and which is pro- 'vided with proj ections- 6 to supply sta'bility to the "inhaler when set down.

and a reduced :portion 1 outer "surf ace of "the reduced portion is pro- "videdwitn'screw "threads '8 which are employed rectionof the how of the air towardsopening 16,

causes the stream of air'and powder to follow'a tortuous path at a relatively rapid'rate with the 'result that any large particles or agglomerates of powder are broken up or shattered by strikin'g against the several convolutionsof the helical rib H. which convolutions act as'baflies.

It will be appreciated that our novel inhalant "'mayPbe usedeifectivelywith inhalantswhich are not "in powdered form, for example, inhalants in 'th'eformo'f a paste or a solid piece.

The embodiment of our invention shown and describedherein'is to be considered mere'lyas illustrative, as our invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An inhaler of the class described, comprising a receptacle for holding a supply of inhalant, a pluralitytof ribs on the inner wall of said receptacle, a contact tube seated in said receptacle and spaced from the inner wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways are formed, and baflling means on the inside of said contact tube positioned to provide a tortuous path for air drawn through said airways into said contacttube. I

2. An inhaler of the class] described, comprising a receptacle for holding a supply of inhalant, a plurality of ribs on the inner wall of said receptacle, a contact tube seated in said receptacle and spaced from the inner wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways are formed, and a helical rib. on the inside of said contact tube.

I 3. An inhaler of theclass described comprising a receptacle for holding a supply of inhalant, a plurality of ribs on the innerwall of said receptacle, a contact tube seated in said receptacle and spaced from the inner wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways are formed, and a helical rib having a plurality of convolutions on the inside of said contact tube.

4. An inhaler of the class described, comprising a receptacle, a depression in said receptacle for holding a supplyof inhalant, a plurality of ribs on the inner wall of said receptacle, a contact tube seated in said receptacle and spaced from the inner ,Wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways are formed, said receptacle having p assageways joining said airways and said depression, and bafiling means on the inside. of said contact tube. V r

5.. An inhaler of the class described, comprising ,a receptacle, a depression in said receptacle, .for holding a supply of inhaIant a plurality of ribs on the inner wall of-said receptacle, a contact tube seated in said receptacle and spaced from the inner wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways are formed, said receptacle having pas-.

sageways joining said airways and said depression, and a helical rib on the inside of said contactrtube. 7

6. An inhaler of the class described, comprising a receptacle, a depression in said receptacle for holding a supply of inhalant, a plurality of ribs on the inner wall of said receptacle, a con: tact tube seated insaid receptacle and spaced from the inner wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways, are formed, said receptacle having passageways joining said airways and said depression, and a helical rib having a plurality ofconvolutions on the inside'of said contacttube.v

. 7. An inhalerof the lass described, comprising ;a receptacle, a hemispherical depression in,

said. receptacle for h9 1i ga;s upply of inhalant,

, a plurality of ribs onthe inner wall of said receptacle, a contact tube seated in saidreceptacle and spaced from the inner wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways areformed, said receptacle having slots leadingjnto said depression substantially tangentially to the periphery thereof and joining said; airways with said depression,' and bafiling means integral with the inner wall of said contact tube.

8. An inhalerof the class described, coinprising a receptacle, a hemispherical depressionin said receptacle for holding a supply of inhalant, a plurality of ribs on the inner wall of said receptacle, a contact tube seated in said receptacle and contact tube.

' of said' contact tube.

4 spaced from the inner wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways are formed, said receptacle having slots leading into said depression substantially tangentially to the periphery thereof and joining said airways with said depression, and a helical rib integral with the inner wall of said 1 9.. An inhalerof the.;cla'ss described,..*comprising a receptacle, a hemispherical depression in said receptacle for holding a supply of inhalant, a plurality of ribs on the inner wall of said receptacle, a contact tube seated in said receptacle and spaced from the inner wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways are formed, said receptacle having slotsleading into said depression substantially tangentially to the periphery thereof and joining said airways with said depression, and a helical rib having a plurality of convolutionsintegral with the inner wall of said contact tube. 5

10 An inhaler of the class described, comprising a receptacle, a hemispherical depression in said receptacle for holding a supply of inhalant, a shoulder in said receptacle circumferentially of said depression, a plurality of ribs on the'inner wall of said receptacle and above said shoulder, a contact tube seated on said shoulder of said receptacle and spaced from the inner Wallthereof bysaid ribs whereby airways are formed, said shoulder having spaced slots joining said v airways with said depression, and, baiili'ng means on the inside of said contact tube,

, a helical rib on the inside of said contact tube.

12. An inhaler of the class described, comprising a receptacle, ahemispherical depression in said receptacle for holding a supply of inhalant, a shoulder in said receptacle circumferentially of said depression, a pluralityo'f ribs on'the inner wall of said receptacle and above said shoulsaid receptacle and spaced from the innerfwall thereof by said ribs whereby airways'arte formed, said shoulder having spaced slots i'joini'ngfisaid der, a contacttube seated on said shoulder of airways with'said 'dl ressiongandfa helical" rib having a plurality er convolutions, on the inside '13. An inhaler of, th lass described, comprising a receptacle, '2 hemispherical"depressionin said receptacle for holding a supply dfinhalant, a shoulder in said 'rece'ptacl"ciijcurnjferentially of said depression, a plurality of ribs 'on, themher wall of said receptacle -and. -jabfgufz'e's'aidshoulder, a contact tube seated onfsa'id shoulder of said receptacle and spaced from 'thefinn'er' wall thereof by, saidribs whereby airways are f rmed, said shouldeflhatin'gf spaced slotsl le'adingljinto said depression, substantially tangentially tolthe periphery thereof 7 side oi said contact tube; 1

A and joiningsaid airway with said depression, and bafliing means 0 the, in-

1 1 4. An inhaler 6f theljjclass' d escribe pris ing a receptacle] a1 hemispherical?depression ha a tsh l -s l e-salesmen in A said receptacle for" holdin supply, (oil-inferentially of said depression, a plurality of ribs on the inner wall of said receptacle and above said shoulder, a contact tube seated on said shoulder of said receptacle and spaced from the inner wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways are formed, said shoulder having spaced slots leading into said depression substantially tangentially to the periphery thereof and joining said airways with said depression, and a helical rib on the inside of said contact tube.

15. An inhaler of the class described, comprising a receptacle, a hemispherical depression in said receptacle for holding a supply of inhalant, a shoulder in said receptacle circumferentially of said depression, a plurality of ribs on the inner wall of said receptacle and above said shoulder, a contact tube seated on said shoulder of said receptacle and spaced from the inner wall thereof by said ribs whereby airways are formed, said shoulder having spaced slots leading into said depression substantially tangentially to the periphery thereof and joining said airways with said depression, and a'helical rib having a plurality of convolutions on the inside of said contact rib.

SAMUEL MILLER. ARTHUR C. EMELIN.

REFERENCES C ITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Dec. 14, 1932 

